One of the reactors of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhiaunder the control of Russian forces, was arrested, the Ukrainian atomic energy company announced on Saturday, after bombings that Ukraine and Russia they accuse each other.
“Following the attack on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the emergency protection system was activated in one of the three operating reactors, which was shut down,” he announced. Energoatom in a message on Telegram.
According to the source, the shelling “caused serious damage” to a station containing nitrogen and oxygen and an “auxiliary building.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was shown on Saturday “alarmed” by the bombings.
Rafael Grossi, director of the UN nuclear agency, said the attacks represent a “very real risk of a nuclear disaster that threatens public health and the environment in Ukraine” and beyond that country’s borders.
Energoatom has reported that “there are still risks of leakage of hydrogen and radioactive substances. The risk of fire is also high.”
“The shelling caused a serious risk to the safe operation of the plant,” the Ukrainian operator continued, adding that it is, however, still generating electricity and staff continue to work there.
On Friday, Ukrainian authorities accused Russian forces of carrying out three attacks near a reactor at the Zaporizhia power plant in the south, despite the fact that Moscow has controlled the territory since the beginning of the invasion.
For its part, the European Union “condemned” Russia’s military activities around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
“This is a serious and irresponsible violation of nuclear safety standards and a new example of Russia’s contempt for international standards,” said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
The Russian army assures for its part that the Ukrainian forces were responsible for these attacks, which caused a fire that has already been extinguished.
On July 21, Russia had already accused the Ukrainian forces of attacking with drones in the territory of this nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.
kyiv affirms that Moscow stores heavy weapons and ammunition in the territory of the plant, which has been occupied since March by Russian forces.
